José Mourinho returns to Real Madrid, outlines pre‑season schedule

José Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex for his first day back after a 13‑year gap, describing his role as a "mission". He said, "It’s not about working at Real Madrid, it’s about working for Real Madrid," and pledged to create a culture of hard work, responsibility and ambition.

Pre‑season training begins on 13 July. The club confirmed two friendly matches: against Fiorentina on 1 August at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, Austria, and against Deportivo La Coruña on 12 August in the Teresa Herrera Trophy. Mourinho’s staff includes assistants Joao Tralhão, Pedro Machado, Roberto Merella, Nuno Santos, Antonio Dias and former player Sami Khedira as assistant manager. He noted that he had been working remotely with the club’s structure before his arrival, using technology to review preparations.

The squad for the early weeks will be limited due to players participating in the 2026 World Cup, with a mix of first‑team members such as Lunin, Huijsen and Camavinga and academy players from Castilla joining the training camp.